Fence-stretcher.



L.-L. McCONNOHlE.

FENCE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9. 1915.

1 ,1 99,583. Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

FENCE-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

Application filed March 9, 1915. Serial No. 13,189.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI L. MCCONNOI-IIE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Battle Creek, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in F ence-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improved Wire fence stretcher, the object of the invention being to provide an improved device of this character which is extremely cheap and simple, is strong and durable, and which may be readily operated for efiiciently stretching a fabric wire fence or a wire of'a fence and may also be used for other analogous purposes.

The invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings :F igure 1 is a perspective view of a fence stretcher constructed in accordance with my inven tion, showing the same in use. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 4 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of the same.

In accordance with my invention I provide a frame which is here shown as comprising a pair of side members 1 connected together at their ends as at 2, 3 and having their intermediate portions spaced apart. A drum 4 which is here shown as adapted for use in connection with a chain has its shaft 5 mounted in bearings in the frame members 1. This drum is here shown as comprising a pair of spaced members 6, 7 which are respectively on the opposing sides of a spur wheel 8 and a disk 9. The teeth 10 of the spur wheel are elongated. I also provide a pinion 11 for co-action with the spur wheel to rotate the drum. This pinion has alined trunnions 12, 13 mounted in bearings in the frame members 1 and the trunnion 12 has an extended cross sectionally angular portion or stem 14 for engagement by a crank, wherewith to turn the pinion. The pinion comprises a pair of spaced arms 15 connecting a pair of heads 16. Its arms are cylindrical in cross section. The pinion has its bearings so close to the bearings of the drum that the center of the pinion is approximately at the periphery of the spur gear. Hence when the pinion is turned one of its arms passes into the space between two of the spurs or teeth of the gear while the other arm of the pinion is beyond the radius of said gear. By stopping the rotat on of the pinion at a time when both of its arms are on opposite sides of a gear tooth, the pinion will also serve to lock the gear wheel and hence prevent the drum from turning, my construction of the pinlon enabling the use of a pawl and ratchet wheel or other such devices to prevent turnlng of the drum, to be entirely dispensed, my pinion serving not only in co-action with the gear wheel to rotate the drum of which the gear forms a part but also serving to lock the drum against rotation when desired.

In connection with the frame the drum and the gearing I also provide a sprocket pulley 17 the block 18 of which has a hook 19 for engagement with or connection to the fence fabric or fence wire to be stretched. The anchor chain 20 is attached to a post or other suitable anchoring object and also to the end 1 of the frame. The stretcher chain 21 has one end attached to the end 3 of the frame. Said stretcher chain then passes over the sprocket pulley and also passes over the drum and is engaged by the teeth of the latter. While appropriately turning the drum, by the means hereinbefore described, the stretcher chain will be tightened, so as to stretch the fence, as will be understood.

Having thus described my invention I claim A wire stretcher comprising a pair of substantially right angle triangular plates arranged in spaced parallel relation, attaching arms formed at one end of the plates, holding arms formed at the opposite ends of the plates, a drum journaled between the plates, the center of the drum being in horizontal alinement with the attaching arms and at one side of the holding arms, in combination with a. sprocket pulley, and a chain trained over the pulley and having one end thereof secured to the holding arms, the opposite end being wound upon said drum.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEVI L. MGCQNN'OHIE.

Witnesses:

CHAS. R. YOUNG, ALLEN D. HART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

